The National tribune., 1887-01-06

- lA~oSe-- y f'-~o~
not recognized, but he subquently received
letter from Gen. Thomas apologizing
for the conduct of his officers, and he (Logan)
had co-operated promptly and cordially with
him at all times. If at any time he had
given Thomas reason for complaint he was
not aware of it He had done for him what
few men would have done. When ordered
to Nashville to supersede Thomas, he, on
arriving at Louisville, had found such stu
alton of affairs that he wrote and telegrsphed
Gen. Grant that Thomas was doing all he
could, and asked to be ordered back to his
own command, which was done.
The letter was marked personal, and has
been kept confidential until now. Gen.
Sherman adds a note in which he ratiies
and confirms every word he wrote on Feb.
IL, 1888, out OF reverence for his memory,
admiration for his heroism in battle, and
love for the man." He says that he always
expected Logan TO survive him, and had
always expressed the wish that he, the then
strongest type of the volunteer soldier alive,
might become the President of the United
States"
The following is the passage in the Memoirs
to which the correspondence relates:
But ii first became necessary to settle the impor
tant question OF who should succeed Gen. McPher-
son. Gen. Logan had taken command of the Army
Of the Tennessee by virtue OF his seniority and had
done well; but did not consider him equal TO the
command of three corps. Between him and Gen.
Blair there existed n natural rivalry. Both were
men of great courage and talent. but were politi-
clans by nature and experience. and maybe that for
this reason they were mistrusted by Regular off,
GERS like Gems. Schofeld. Thomas and myself 1t
was all-important that there should exist perfect
understanding among the army commanders, and
at conference with Gen George ii. Thomas at the
headquarters Of Gen. Thomas j. Woods. command
ing division in the Fourth Corps he (Thomas)
demonstrated warmly against my recommending
that Gen. Logan should be assigned to the COM
mand OF the Army of the Tennessee by reason Of
his accidental seniority. We discussed fully the
merits and qualities OF every officer of high rank
in the army, and finally settled on Matt o. o.
Howard rs the best officer who was present and
available for the purpose. On the 9th of July
telegraphed 10 Gen Halleck this preference, and it
was promptly ratified by the President Gen.
Towards place in command OF the Fourth Corps
was filed by Gen. Stanley one OF the division
manders. on Recommendation OF Gen. Thomas.
All these promotions happened TO fall upon
West-Pointers, and doubtless Logan and Blair had
some reason TO believe that intended to monopo-
lie the higher honors of tie war for the Regular
officers. i remember well my own thoughts and
feelings the time and faaI tbot 4 WA or
Intentionally partial to any class wanted to
succeed in taking Atlanta, and needed commanders
who were purely and technically soldiers. men
who would obey orders and execute them promptly
and on time; for knew that we would have to
execute some most delicate manuvers, requiring
the utmost skill, nicely. and precision. believed
that Gen. Howard wOuldd al these faithfully and
well, and think the result has justified my choice
i regarded both Gems Logan and Blair volun-
teers," that looked 10 personal fame and glory as
auxiliary and secondary TO their political ambition,
and not Us professional soldiers.
GEN. SHERMAN AT LoGAN's FUNERAL.
The most observed of all the eminent men
who filled the Senate Chamber at the funeral
of Gen. Logan was Gen. W. I. Sherman.
Every eye sought him out and returned to
him most frequently during the services He
sat by the side Of Roscoe Conkling, and the
marked features of the two remarkable men
harmonized most curiously. He wore black
coat of priest-ike straightness of cut, and
on the left breast of this was but single
badge-that of the Grand Army of the Re-
public, which he wore proudly, as the highest
honor that could be bestowed upon him.
Attitude of body and pose of rugged head
were those with which his old veterans are
familiar, but his quick eyes lacked their old
expression of seeing in an instant all that
happened around him. Their expression
was interpretive, and he seemed busy with
thoughts that were far away from the bier
upon which were lying all that remained of
his greatest subordinate. DR.. Newman's
well-chosen words Of praise fell without
force upon his ear-his memory teemed
with recollections OF the dead comrade the
lightest of which made mere words seem
tame and inexpensive. Could any glowing
period or sonorous phrase tell him as much
of the dead hero's merits as he gained from
a single glance at him leading his division
with splendid skill and courage at Cham
pions Hill? What are all the eulOgies that
the brain Of man can conceive compared
with Shermans memory of Logan during q
single hour of that terrible 22d of July be-
fore Atlanta?
Sitting there gazing at the fower-decked
coffin, around which the Nations great ones
mourned, what thoughts must have come
into his mind of the wonderful page in our
history written by the Army of the Tennes
see. and to make which he and the dead man
lying before him did so much. How few re
main of that galaxy of brilliant young
Generals who in 1862 started out to fulfil
Logan's proud boast that the men of tn,
Northwest would hew their way to the sea.
Their chief, the greatest of American sol
diers, sleeps on the banks of the Hudson
after a career that astonished the world. C
L. Smith, the Cheyalier Bayard of the youn,
army, crowned his lifework at Donelson anG
died before Shiloh. W. ii. L. Wallace, tn,
brilliant young lawyer, was the first to fal